Nipple



Dec. 14, 1937. 1B. WHITBREAD NIPPLE Filed June 28, 1937 INVENTOR. BY Ldia qf-s f ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 14, 1937 7 .UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE James B. Whitbread, Detroit, Mich.

Application June 28, 1937, Serial No. 150,666

8 Claims.

, form the nipple and. its valve so that the valve is more certain of operating as intended than is the case with valves heretofore known, so that the nipple is more economical of manufacture than nipples heretofore known, and most particular1y, so that the relief port may be exposed for purposes of cleaning it when the same is clogged.

For an understanding of the nipples described herein, reference should be had to the appended drawing. In this drawing,

Figs. 1 and 2 are section and cutaway elevation views, respectively, or the form of nipple disclosed in my prior application;

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of an improved. form of nipple.

v Each nipple herein disclosed is made of one piece of relatively flexible material such as rubber, and comprises a body part A and a neck B whose ball end isprovided with a feeding hole C. The lower end of the body A is open and is equipped with a bead.D for gripping a bottle neck. a

, It isunderstood that the side wall of the body part A, or at least a part of such side wall, flexes inwardly due to suction through the feeding hole a C; I to prevent such flexinginwardly, there is formed in such partof the side wall a minute diameter relief port E which, when open, permits air to enter the bottle and thus relieve the suction formed therein by the nursing action. For closing and protectingthe outer' end of the port E there is provided a thick and relatively rigid mound-like portion or block I integral with the disposed outside of the nipple body A at the port E. A part 2 .of the block is integrally connected to the side wall of the nipple, and a part 3 of the block is separated from the adjacent flexing part of the nipple side wall by a slit 4. The slit 4 opens to ambient atmosphere and may serve to connect the interior of the nipple through the port E when the latter is open to such ambient atmosphere.

When the nipple is in its normal condition,

that is not inwardly flexed due .to suction, the outer end of the port E is sealed and closed by the inner surface of the block part 3. However, when part of the side wall of the nipple has flexed inwardly due to suction within the nipple, the outer end of the port E is pulled away from the part 3 of the block so as to be unsealed and so as to be opened to ambient atmosphere through the slit 4. During such movement or inward flexing of the side wall of the nipple, the severed part 3 of the block remains relatively immovable, the port opening being affected solely by movement of the flexing part of the side wall of the nipple away from block part 3.

. When it is desired to clean the interior of the slit 4 or the port E, as when the latter is clogged, the part 3 of the block may be pulled away from the side wall of the nipple manually to expose the interior of the slit 4 and the port E.

It will be observed that the axis of the port E is relatively transverse to the plane of the slit 4. In this way the sealing surface of the block part 3 abuts flat against the side wall of the nipple at the port and forms an effective closure for the making the port ll of the patent to Maccoy- In the nipple of Figs. 3 and 4, that part of the side wall of the nipple immediately surrounding the port E is made thinner and more flexible than the remainder of the side wall of the nipple and particularly than that part of the side wall oppcsit e the part immediately surrounding the port E. Referring to Fig. 3 it will be observed that the zone a-w is considerably thinner than the zone bb. Thus, any tendency of the nipple to flex will be concentrated on that part of the nipple immediately surrounding the port. This insures satisfactory operation of the nipple for the purposes intended.

It will also be observed that for purposes of increasing the rigidity of the block and thus insuring the block part 3 not following the inwardly flexing side wall of the nipple when the latter flexes, no cutout is provided in the block 'of Figs.

3 and 4 corresponding to the cutout 5 that is provided in the block of Figs. 1 and 2.

It will also be observed that it is immaterial, as far as the principle of operation is concerned, whether the slit be made from above down or from below up. All that is required is that there be a slit. Fig. 2 shows the slit as being made from above down. However, for purposes of convenience of manufacture it is preferred to have the slit formed from above down as in Fig. 4.

It will also be observed that so far as the principle of operation is concerned it is immaterial whether the block be integrally secured to the side wall of the nipple at one end of the block or at both ends of the block. While in the embodiments shown the slit is such that the block is secured at only one end of the same, it might well be the case that the slit might be such that the block is secured at two ends, somewhat after the fashion shown in the patent to Coulbourn 609,415 which shows a flap 5 secured at its two ends to the side wall of the nipple. However for purposes of simplicity of manufacture it is preferred to form the slit so that the block is secured to the nipple at only one end of the block.

The nipple herein disclosed is intended to be manufactured somewhat as follows: The nipple and block are molded in a suitable molding apparatus. Thereafter the slit 4 is provided by some suitable slitting means after which the severed part of the block 3 is pulled back to expose a suitable part of the side wall of the nipple, whereupon by means of a punch or drill the port E is then formed in such side wall part, after which the block part 3 is released so that it will return to its port sealing and covering position.

It will be observed that the block not only forms a closure for the port but in addition forms a protective cap for the outer end of the port, thus protecting the port against contamination from ambient atmosphere.

At no time is the port exposed for contamination. This is obviously true when the nipple side wall is not flexed inwardly due to suction. Even where it is flexed inwardly, however, the block part 3, while no longer forming a closure for the port, nevertheless still forms a protective cap for the port, inasmuch as the passage 4 leading to the port is not only minute but, in addition, only momentarily in existence.

The feeding hole C may be in the form of the conventional minute aperture, as illustrated, or may be in the form of a U-shaped slit or out which will define a flap, normally in a position to close the slit but adapted to move outwardly, on each feeding suck, to open the slit and provide a large area opening, whereby fluids thicker than milk, such as strained vegetables, may be fed.

I claim:

1. A feeding nipple of flexible material, such as rubber, a wall part of which sometimes flexes inwardly due to suction through the feeding hole of the nipple, the nipple having in such flexing part a minute diameter relief port, and a closure and protective cap for the outer end of such port comprising a thick, relatively rigid block integral with and disposed outside of the nipple at said port, part of the block being separated from the flexing part of the nipple and the outer end of the port by a slit which opens to ambient atmosphere, the outer end of the port being sealed by the inner surface of. the

separated part of the block at the slit when the flexing part of the nipple is not flexed and being unsealed so as to be open to ambient atmosphere through the slit when the flexing part of the nipple has been flexed inwardly away from the severed part of the block, the severed part of the block remaining relatively immovable during the flexing movement of the flexing part of the nipple but being manually movable away from the outer end of the port 'for exposing the latter for cleaning.

2. A feeding nipple of flexible material, such as rubber, a wall part of which sometimes flexes inwardly due to suction through the feeding hole of the nipple, the nipple having in such flexing part a minute diameter relief port, and a closure and protective cap for the outer end of such port comprising a thick, relatively rigid block integral with and disposed outside of the nipple at said port, part of the block being separated from the flexing part of the nipple and the outer end of the port by a slit which opens to ambient atmosphere, the outer end of the port being sealed by the inner surface of the separated part of the block at the slit when the flexing part of the nipple is not flexed and being unsealed so as to be open to ambient atmosphere through the slit when the flexing part of the nipple has been flexed inwardly away from the severed part of the block, the severed part of the block remaining relatively immovable during the flexing movement of the flexing part of the nipple but being manually movable away from the outer end of the port for exposing the latter for cleaning, the axis of the port being relatively transverse to the plane of the slit.

3. A feeding nipple of flexible material, such as rubber, a wall part of which sometimes flexes inwardly due to suction through the feeding hole of the nipple, the nipple having in such flexing part a minute diameter relief port, and a closure and protective cap for the outer end of such port comprising a thick, relatively rigid block integral with and disposed outside of the nipple at said port, part of the block being separated from the flexing part of the nipple and the outer end of the port by a slit which opens to ambient atmosphere, the outer end of the port being sealed by the inner surface of the separated part of the block at the slit when the flexing part of the nipple is not flexed and being unsealed so as to be open to ambient atmosphere through the slit when the flexing part of the nipple has been flexed inwardly away from the severed part of the block, the severed part of the block remaining relatively immovable during the flexing movement of the flexing part of the nipple but being manually movable away from the outer end of the port for exposing the latter for cleaning, the axis of the port being relatively transverse to the flexing part of the nipple.

4. A feeding nipple of flexible material, such as rubber, a wall part of which sometimes flexes inwardly due to suction through the feeding hole of the nipple, the nipple having in such flexing part a minute diameter relief port, and a closure and protective cap for the outer end of such port comprising a thick, relatively rigid block integral with and disposed outside of the nipple at said port, part of the block being separated from the flexing part of the nipple and the outer end of the port by a slit which opens to ambient atmosphere, the outer end of the port being sealed by the inner surface of the severed part of the block, the severed part of the block remaining relatively immovable during the flexing movement of the flexing part of the nipple but being manually movable away from the outer end of the port for exposing the latter for cleaning, the axis of the port being relatively transverse to the flexing part of the nipple, and the plane of the slit beingrelatively transverse tothe axis of the port.

5. A feeding nipple of flexible material, such as rubber, a wall part of which sometimes flexes inwardly due to suction through the feeding hole of the nipple, the nipple having in such flexing part a minute diameter relief port, and a closure and protective cap for the outer end of such port comprising a thick, relatively rigid block 7 integral with and disposed outside of the nipple at said port, part of the block being separated from the flexing part of the nipple and the outer end of the port by a slit which opens to ambient atmosphere, the outer end of the port being sealed by the inner surface of the separated part of the block at the slit when the flexing part of the nipple is not flexed and being unsealed so as to be open to ambient atmosphere through the slit when the flexing part of the nipple has been flexed inwardly away from the severed part of the block, the severed part of the block remaining relatively immovable during the flexing movement of the flexing part of the nipple but being manually movable away from outer end'of the port for exposing the latter for cleaning, the nipple being so formed that the flexing part thereof is of greater flexibility than the part of the wall of the nipple adjacent the flexing part.

6. A feeding nipple of flexible material, such as rubber, a wall part of which sometimes flexes inwardly due to suction through the feeding hole of the nipple, the nipple having in such flexing part a minute diameter relief port, and a closure and protective cap for the outer end of such port comprising a thick, relatively rigid block integral with and disposed outside of the nipple at said port, part of the block being separated from the flexing part of the nipple and the outer end of the port by a slit which opens to ambient atmosphere, the outer end of the port being sealed by the inner surface of the separated part of the block at the slit when the flexing part of the nipple is not flexed and being unsealed so as to be open to ambient atmosphere through the slit when the flexing part of the nipple has been flexed inwardly away from the severed part of the block, the severed part of the block remaining relatively immovable during the flexing movement of the flexing part of the nipple but being manually movable away from outer end of the port for exposing the latter for cleaning, the nipple being so formed that the flexing part thereof is of greater flexibility than the part of the wall of the nipple adjacent the flexing part, the block being so formed that its severed part has as little as possible of a tendency to move inwardly with the flexing part of the nipple when the latter flexes inwardly.

7. In combination with a nipple structure having a cylindrical body, a neck with a fluid outlet, lower bottle attaching recess and vacuum relief orifice; control means for said orifice consisting of a bar depending integrally from the upper portion of aforesaid body, the lower end portion of said bar being enlarged and effecting thereby a cap with a flat vertically disposed inner surface, said surface adapted to lie normally adjacent and in direct contact with the outer opening of aforesaid orifice, thereby completely seal ing the same and obstructing passage of air into said body until at such time when the manual suction of liquid through aforesaid outlet is actuated causing a vacuum simultaneously retracting the wall of said body inwardly and automatically effecting a passage intermediate aforesaid surface and orifice, and admitting thereby a flow of air into the body aforesaid.

8. In combination with a nipple structure having a cylindrical body, a neck With a fluid outlet, bottle attaching recess and a vacuum relief orifice; control means for said orifice comprising a bar depending integrally from the upper portion of aforesaid body and externally of the same, the lower end portion of said bar being enlarged and forming thereby a cap with a flat vertically disposed inner surface, said body also having a vertically arranged flat surface, the first-named surface adapted to lie adjacent the latter surface normally sealing aforesaid orifice; means for providing active flexibility for the wall of aforesaid body having said orifice therethrough comprising an uninterrupted passage intermediate said Wall and aforesaid bar during the normal operation of the device.

JAMES B. WHITBREAD. 

